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Weather at Monticello

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Sunflower

Helianthus annus

While Jefferson took great interest in plants, such as sesame and olive trees, that produced useful oils, there is no indication that he recognized such a benefit in the Sunflower. His listing of it as one of the "Hardy perennial flowers" sown at Monticello in September 1771, seems to show that he grew it for its large and striking flower, a quality that keeps it in ornamental gardens today.